During that time, Agatha regularly ate nutritious food and received treatment from a doctor.
She applied medicine to her bruised area and fell asleep in his warm embrace at night.
Day 3 of living in the mansion.
The doctor who entered the mansion this morning carefully examined Agatha. Enoch was watching from the side.
The soon-to-step-backed doctor opened his mouth.
“You have recovered greatly. The bruises will naturally disappear, and as long as you eat well, you will be well-nourished. You may go out, Your Grace.”
“Would horseback riding be okay?”
“It is possible if you don’t overdo it.”
“Yes, I’ll go out and see.”
After the doctor left the room.
Enoch nodded slowly as he looked up at his wife, who was looking up at him with a twinkle in her eye.
“We can leave now.”
"Yes!"
So that morning, the second expedition of the Aratus family was decided.
Agatha had been asking Enoch about the battlefield situation for nearly two days.
Enoch simply told her the current situation.
“Hubert is doing well.”
“Sir Hubert?”
“When I contacted him two days ago, he said he was dealing with Getin Jennings’ army that had advanced into the Nobilis territory. I think the situation has been resolved by now.”
Enoch didn't seem to have any doubts about victory.
Hubert Carwen was the second vice-captain of the elite Knights of Aratus, a knight who had been on the battlefield for ten years.
If a battle had been fought, they would have won.
Not only was he able to win the battle, but he was also able to afford to give Agatha a few days to recover.
“Injuries are not good to leave untreated. Get plenty of rest and move around.”
Agatha decided to follow the doctor's prescription despite Enoch's persuasion.
The minimum rest period before the shock of the fall could subside and horseback riding was possible was two days.
Now that the doctor's permission has finally been granted.
“Actually, I was very nervous when I was kidnapped, so there was no problem. I fell off my horse, but it was okay because I landed on some soft bushes.”
"...Is that so?”
“I’ll get ready. You too, get ready quickly and come.”
Agatha confidently left the room. Her maids followed her.
“Madam, what should I do with the luggage?”
The vassals also knew that they had to move quickly.
Agatha said as she checked the condition of her brown horse, which had accompanied her on most of her riding and hunting trips.
“I’ll take minimal luggage.”
Water, some food, and some first aid supplies should be enough.
The documents that needed to be verified would be brought straight to the castle, and the remaining necessary items would follow along with the supplies.
“Will it be okay for a long time?”
Enoch, who had come closer, asked worriedly, but Agatha nodded readily.
"It's okay."
This journey was something she chose herself.
'I'm glad we can go together.'
She never intended for it to be a burden while on the move.
Without her in the mansion, there was no need to leave many knights to guard, so the number of knights increased.
Her body has also recovered quite a bit.
Even Agatha's horse riding skills were of a very high level.
As long as she has a clear view, there is no reason why she can't run as fast as a knight.
As there were more people, the travel time increased, so Agatha was confident that she could keep up.
***
The night Agatha was rescued.
Aratus' knights captured two of Henry's men and stormed the cabin, but were unable to capture Henry.
This was because he sensed that things were wrong when the one who chased after the runaway Agatha did not return and quickly fled the scene.
Henry was barely able to hear the explanation from his subordinate who had followed him.
“So, Enoch Aratus is here?”
“Yes, my lord.”
The idea of threatening Agatha to release him from exile and receive compensation was completely out of the question.
Instead, Henry immediately made another plan.
“Then we must end this land war before he comes.”
Originally, the territorial war was just bait to allow Agatha to be kidnapped, but not anymore.
Only by making some profit can he be punished for leaving his place of exile without permission.
If Enoch had gone to the front lines first while taking care of Agatha, it would have been entirely possible if the five families had combined their strengths.
“Agatha, you thought this was how I would end up, right? I’ll show you that Henry Insidio isn’t dead yet.”
Henry looked towards the direction where Agatha and Enoch might be, then headed south to the Nobilis estate.
Behind him, a subordinate with a mysterious look in his eyes followed.
***
That afternoon.
The Knights of Aratus prepared thoroughly and set out for their second expedition.
In the lead were Agatha and Enoch, with their standard-bearers carrying the flags of Aratus and Nobilis.
The captain of the guard at the southern gate of the outer castle came out to greet them after seeing the procession of hundreds of knights.
“Hello, Marquis Aratus, Marchioness Aratus. It seems that the Marchioness is also joining us this time.”
Agatha smiled elegantly and nodded.
“I think I’ll be leaving the capital for a while. I hope everything goes smoothly until I return, Captain.”
“I am only guarding the gate. Thank you, Marchioness. May good fortune be with you as well.”
The captain of the guard stepped aside and bowed politely.
“I wish you success, Marquis Aratus and Marchioness.”
“Thank you. I’ll see you when I get back.”
A procession of hundreds of knights passed through the central gate of the outer castle's south gate and began to slowly gather speed.
The road leading out of the city gate and into the imperial territory was relatively well maintained.
The road was clean and smooth, with no potholes or obstacles in the middle of the road.
Of course, public security was excellent, but nothing happened to make them realize it.
This was because hundreds of knights were moving in a group and there was no one big enough to block their path.
For lunch, they stopped briefly and had the dry bread and water they had brought with them, and in the evening, while they were at camp, they lit a fire in the stove and cooked some stew.
Although meals were short and breaks were brief.
Contrary to Enoch's worries, it was a bearable time for Agatha.
More than anything, being with him every moment and getting closer to their destination was more satisfying than a good meal or a good night's sleep.
On the fifth day.
Enoch's procession heading south collided with a messenger heading to the capital. A member of the Knights of Aratus, he slowed his horse as soon as he saw Enoch.
“My lord.”
He immediately saluted and presented the scroll sent by Hubert Carwen, the current interim commander, deputy commander, and second-in-command.
“This is a report from Sir Hubert.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
A brief respite was provided while they met with the messenger.
Agatha read the letter from Hubert with Enoch.
'Oh.'
The purple eyes were unusual. The scroll contained information about Hubert's complete victory in a fight with Getin Jennings.
Even though they didn't catch Getin Jennings, they did dismantle the entire Jennings Army.
'Sir Hubert, you are very capable.'
It was a competence that was completely unnoticeable in his usual playful and oblivious behavior.
Of course, since he had the ability, Enoch gave him the positions of temporary commander and deputy commander.
The man at Agatha's bedside opened his mouth absentmindedly.
“The first battle was fought safely.”
“It’s a good start. The question is, what’s the sentence below?”
“Yes.”
The following report stated that the movements of the enemies, who had been unable to unite and were moving separately, had become more agile.
The four remaining families, who had no common ground other than coveting the Nobilis territory, began to cooperate organically.
“Well, it’s getting a little complicated.”
“Maybe it’s because Baron Insidio came this way?”
“I think that is highly likely.”
Aratus and Nobilis were not yet fully united.
The Aratus force, consisting of knights, and the Nobilis force, consisting of only soldiers, had a solid command structure and appeared to be well-mixed at first glance.
As it turned out, there was no commander in charge of the entire battlefield.
Originally, Enoch, First Vice-Captain Leon, and Second Vice-Captain Hubert, three would have been enough.
Enoch was currently here and Leon was on guard duty, so Hubert was handling the entire battlefield by himself.
They need at least one more commander right now.
Enoch was needed on this battlefield.
'So we have to move faster.'
Enoch must have had the same thoughts as Agatha. The moment their eyes met, his eyes spoke volumes.
“Is that okay?”
"It's okay."
It's much better to rest and sleep less than to be late and lose.
“Then I will speed things up from now on.”
“I will do my best to follow along.”
After that, the knights' cavalry speed was very fast. Agatha was learning something new about how they could move so quickly.
At a moderate pace that doesn't tire the horse out, but as fast as possible.
The first priority for the movement was the horse's stamina.
A person on horseback could only remain on the horse as long as the horse had energy left in it.
It was a little confusing at first.
Agatha, who had quickly adapted, was soon being carried on horseback like a knight.
The urging paid off, as Enoch, Agatha, and hundreds of Knights of Aratus finally reached the southern reaches of Nobilis' influence.
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